Media365
With the second Test against the West Indies set to begin on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Team India gathered for a special dinner hosted by head coach Gautam Gambhir at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. The players and support staff arrived together by bus, dressed casually for the relaxed occasion. India skipper Shubman Gill sported a white t-shirt paired with blue jeans and black glasses, while most teammates, including Jasprit Bumrah, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, and Prasidh Krishna, were seen in white outfits. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla were also in attendance.
The informal get-together came at a perfect time, with the hosts leading the two-match series 1–0 following a dominant victory in Ahmedabad. India had overwhelmed the visitors by an innings and 140 runs, powered by vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round brilliance.Watch the players arrive at Gambhir’s residence here India’s pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, had earlier set the tone by dismissing the West Indies for 162 in 44.1 overs on a green-tinged surface. The duo made full use of the bounce and movement available on the red-soil pitch. In reply, India’s top order stamped their authority. KL Rahul (100), Ravindra Jadeja (104*), and Dhruv Jurel (125) all produced fine knocks to help the hosts post a commanding 448/5 before declaring. The West Indies faltered again in their second innings, folding for 146 and handing India a comprehensive victory.
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As the action now shifts to Delhi, the pitch is expected to favour batters early on, featuring black soil and patches of grass. Spinners, however, are likely to come into play as the match progresses. The capital last hosted a Test in 2023 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India defeated Australia by six wickets inside three days — a result they will be eager to replicate when they face the West Indies this week.
